THE News of the World's royal editor will appear in court next week in connection with a string of offences after being questioned over alleged mobile phone hacking.

Scotland Yard said last night that senior journalist Clive Goodman, 48, from Putney had been charged with a total of nine offences, including plotting with Glenn Mulcaire to "intercept communications, namely by agreeing to access individuals telephone voicemail messages, in the course of their transmission by means of a public telecommunication system, contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977".

He and Mulcaire, 35, from Sutton, were also charged with eight counts of intercepting communications on dates between January and May this year.

Both have now been released on police bail to appear at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court next Wednesday.

Scotland Yard launched an investigation after members of the Prince of Wales' household - also the official residence of his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Princes William and Harry - reported alleged security breaches within its phone network.

The police inquiry - led by the Anti-Terrorist Branch - is now said to have now widened and is examining whether public figures, including senior politicians, high-profile celebrities and footballers, or members of another royal household, had their mobiles hacked.

Goodman and two others were arrested on Tuesday in connection with allegations that Clarence House officials had their voicemail messages intercepted. One of those, a 50-year-old, was earlier released on bail.

All three men arrested were held under Section 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, under which the potential penalties are a maximum of two years in jail, a fine or both.